The 5 Most Beautiful Woodlands in the Netherlands
Source: pexels.com
In honor of the ‘Nationale Boomfeestdag’ (i.e., National Tree Celebration Day, or Arbor Day) in the Netherlands on Wednesday the 15th of March, we wanted to give you an insight into the fantastic forests the Netherlands has on offer. The scenic woodlands in this post may surprise you, as the country is most known for its flat- and farmlands. But hopefully this gives you even more reason to learn about these magnificent sights.
1. Veluwe National Park (Gelderland)
This is the oldest national park in the country. It dates back to the last Ice Age and the landscapes were essentially created by glaciers. The ‘Veluwe’, as it is called by the Dutch, is a place where you can find an astonishingly large array of wildlife; from badgers, to wild horses, to foxes. The park is large enough for several day-long hikes and has a nice mixture of different landscapes; densely wooded as well as wider open spaces.
Best time to visit: May, June, July, August & September
Source: Wikimedia Commons
2. Utrechtse Heuvelrug National Park (Utrecht)
Next to the ‘Veluwe’, the landscape of the ‘Utrechtse Heuvelrug’ was also created by glaciers. These glaciers deposited sand mounds as they crawled across the landscape, which is the foundation of the rolling hills you will see today. If you are looking for a little uphill hike, this is the place to go in the otherwise rather flat landscape of the country. This place is especially beautiful in Autumn when the leaves change colour.
Best time to visit: Late September, October & Early November
Source: Wikimedia Commons
3. Amsterdamse Bos/ Amsterdam Forest (Noord Holland)
This may surprise you, but Amsterdam actually has one of the largest city ‘parks’ in Europe fittingly called: the Amsterdamse ‘Bos’. The forest houses different landscapes going from lakes, to ponds, to waterways, to woodland, and landscaped gardens. In terms of animals, there are free-roaming Scottish Highlanders and lots of birds. But there is also a horse riding school and a petting zoo with, for instance, goats and pigs. The Amsterdamse Bos is a true recreation haven, as there are also canoe rental places, a pancake restaurant, ice cream stands and a couple of cafés.
Top tip: when Spring hits in a couple of weeks, the South of the forest becomes a lush pink Japanese cherry blossom paradise.
Best time to visit: March & April
Source: Wikimedia Commons
4. The Mastbos (Noord-Brabant)
The Mastbos is located in the south, near the Belgian border. This woodland is over 500 years old, is home to beautiful tall trees and has many small lakes that give wonderfully calm views as well as picnic spots for visitors. In terms of history, the forest used to be the hunting ground of the royal family. Another interesting historic fact about the forest is that the name ‘Mastbos’ stems from the tall trees that were used as masts on ships.
Best time to visit: August & September
Source: Wikimedia Commons
5. Sallandse Heuvelrug (Overijssel)
This forest is actually a mixture of heath and woodland, but it’s so beautiful that it has earned its place on this list. Next to the varied landscape, this national park is also special because of its large population of sheep. You may spontaneously find one of two herds of sheep prancing around during your walk, or you can visit them at the ‘Schaapskooi’ on the Sprengenberg (i.e., an enclosed area with sheep).
Best time to visit: July, August & September
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Honorable mentions
Because the country has many more woodlands, I will share a few honorable mentions to add to your ‘go-to’ list:
- Speulder- & Sprielderbos (Gelderland)
- Loonse & Drunense Duinen (Noord-Brabant)
- Waterloopbos (Flevoland)
- National Park Dwingelderveld (Drenthe)
- Haagse Bos (Zuid-Holland)
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That’s it: these are forests in the Netherlands that really deserve a visit if you enjoy a walk or a bike ride in nature. Did it surprise you that the Netherlands has so many forests? And do you have recommendations or photos for the rest of the community of woodlands we should visit? Check out this discussion topic on the forum where we can discuss.
Until next time!
Marieke, OLS Community Manager - Dutch
Source: pexels.com